S 


Tlie  Work  of  (4od  in  Mici  •onesia. 

1852-1889. 


Sn  J?istorical  Skrtd). 


BY 

Rev.  Robert  W.  Logan, 

Missionary  to-Micronesia.  . 


PUBIJSHEU  BY  THE  AMERICAN  BOARD  OF  COMMISSIONERS 
FOR  FOREIGN  MISSIONS. 

1 890,  •'  • 


PREFATORY  NOTE. 


In  the  year  188:1,  Rev.  Robert  \V.  Logan,  prior  to  his  return  to  his 
mission,  wrote  the  following  sketch  of  the  work  of  God  among  tlie 
islands  of  Micronesia.  It  is  a clear  though  brief  record  of  the 
mission  from  its  commencement  until  the  year  1883.  The  story  can- 
not be  improved,  and  yet  it  needs  a supplement  to  bring  it  down  to 
the  present  time.  It  is  therefore  primed  as  Mr.  Logan  wrote  it, 
with  an  Appendix  containing  the  later  history.  The  <jnly  fault  iu 
Mr.  Logan’s  record  is  that  he  hides  his  own  personality  so  that  no 
one  would  know  the  pari  he  and  his  wife  have  had  in  the  prosecu- 
tion of  the  work.  In  a note  to  the  previous  eilition  of  this  sketch. 
Dr.  Haydn  said  : — 

“ Simple  justiee  requires  that  something  he  said.  Mr.  Logan, 
with  his  wife,  both  of  Ohio  and  of  Oherlin  College,  went  to 
Mh’fonesia  in  1871,  and  were  located  iu  I’onape,  one  of  the 
Caroline  Islands.  Three  years  later,  while  still  engaged  in  the 
work  of  that  station,  he  was  appointed  to  learn  the  Mortlock 
language  by  the  aid  of  natives  from  the  islands  of  that  group, 
then  in  the  schools  at  I’onape.  He  was  thus  occupied  for  two 
years.  In  November,  1879,  he  and  his  wife  were  transfeiTed  to 
Oniop,  of  the  Mortlock  group,  where  they  remained  thirteen 
months.  Like  others  before  them  on  these  low  coral  islands,  they 
suffered  from  poor  and  insufficient  fare,  their  supplies  running  low, 
as  the  Morning  Star,  delayed  by  Pacific  calms,  lingered  on  its  way 
with  the  longed-for  necessaries  of  life.  Forced  to  leave  to  save 
life,  they  went  first  to  Ponape,  and,  some  months  later,  to  New 
Zealand,  on  a little  schooner  of  sixty  tons.  They,  with  two  chil- 
dren, were  seventy-nine  days  at  sea,  and  for  a long  time  on  short 
rations.  The  story  of  this  tedious  voyage,  in  cramped  quarters 
and  with  poor  liealth,  is  one  not  likely  to  be  forgotten  by  those  who 
are  familiar  with  its  graphic  and  pathetic  recital.” 

Reaching  this  country  in  1882,  Mr.  Logan,  to  the  surprise  of  him- 
self and  his  friends,  recovered  his  health  so  tlnit  with  his  family  he 
returned  to  Micronesia,  taking  up  their  resilience  at  Anapauo  in  the 
Ruk  Archipelago,  where  they  labored  together  with  great  zeal  and 
success  until  Mr.  Logan  was  again  prostrated  by  sickness,  dying 
at  Ruk,  December  27,  1887.  Seldom  has  a missionary  fallen  who 
was  more  beloved  or  more  missed.  Mrs.  Logan,  after  her  hus- 
band’s death,  was  constrained  to  come  to  the  United  States  to  care 
for  her  children,  but  she  has  again  returned  to  Ruk  to  have  charge 
of  the  Girls’  School,  which  she  had  established  there.  A brief 
account  of  the  progress  of  the  work  from  1883  to  1889  will  be  found 
in  the  Appendix.  E.  e.  s. 

Missionary  Rooms,  Boston,  February,  1890. 


MICRONESIA. 


CHARACTER  OF  THE  ISLANDS. 

The  islands  of  Micronesia  lie  along  the  equator,  and 
a little  west  of  the  meridian  on  which  the  world's  day 
begins.  The  Jlicronesian  Christians  have  finished  their 
Sabbath  worship,  and  fallen  asleep  under  the  shelter  of 
their  thatched  cottages  beneath  the  cocoa-trees,  before 
Christians  in  America  have  begun  the  services  of  the 
day. 

Micronesia  is  a sub-division  of  Polynesia,  the  generic 
name  for  tlie  myriad  islands  scattered  over  the  broad 
Pacific  Oct-an.  It  is  composed  of  four  groups : the 
Gilbert  or  Kingsmill  Islands,  which  lie  on  both  sides  of 
the  equator,  and  a little  beyond  the  ISOth  meridian; 
the  Marshall  or  Mulgrave  Islands,  subdivided  into  the 
Radack  and  Kalick  chains;  the  Caroline;  and  the 
Ladrone  Islands.  The  three  former  groups  only  are 
missionary  ground,  as  the  Ladrone  Islands  are  a Spanish 
penal  colony,  and  the  native  race  is  extinct. 

The  islands  of  Micronesia  are  in  the  great  coral  belt  — 
the  Gilbert  and  Marshall  groups  being  exclusively  of 
coral  formation  — and  lie  in  the  Caroline  Archipelago, 
which  stietclies  over  the  sea  a distance  of  two  thousand 
miles  from  east  to  west.  Many  of  the  atolls,  or  coral 
islands,  enclose  lagoons  from  ten  to  fifteen  miles  broad, 
and  from  twenty  to  thirty  miles  long. 

The  climate  of  ilicronesia  is  a never-ending  summer; 
never  so  hot  as  the  hottest  summer  days  in  America,  and 
never  cold  enough  to  cause  chilliness.  The  greatest 
range  of  the  thermometer  experienced  during  a residence 


2 


MICROXESIA. 


of  several  years  on  Ponape.  one  of  the  Caroline  group, 
was  thirteen  degrees — from  74  degrees  to  87  degrees  in 
the  sliade.  On  some  of  the  islands  the  rainfall  is 
excessive,  on  others  but  moderate. 

THE  INHABITANTS. 

The  islands  of  Polynesia  are  inhabited  by  two  races  of 
people : brown  and  black.  The  brown  are  found  on  the 
Sandwich  Islands,  the  Marquesas,  the  Society  and  the 
Samoan  groups,  the  Hervey,  and  Xew  Zealand.  To  this 
race  belong  the  inhabitants  of  Micronesia.  The  Melane- 
sians, found  on  the  Fiji  Islands,  Xew  Caledonia,  the 
New  Hebrides,  the  Loyalty  and  Solomon  groups,  Xew 
Britain,  and  Xew  Guinea,  are  akin  to  the  African, 
having  the  woolly  hair  and  the  physiognomy  of  the 
negro  races.  They  are  lower  down  in  the  scale  of 
civilization  than  their  brown  neighbors,  being,  as  a rule, 
cannibals,  fierce,  warlike,  treacherous,  and  intractable. 
It  w'as  among  these  people  that  John  IVilliams,  Bishop 
Patteson,  the  Gordons,  and  other  misssionaries,  lost  their 
lives.  But,  degraded  as  they  are,  the  entire  history  of 
Christian  missions  can  show  no  greater  transformation 
than  has  taken  place  on  the  Fiji  Islands,  as  the  result  of 
English  Wesleyan  missions. 

The  islands  Inhabited  by  the  black  Polynesians  enter 
like  a wedge  among  those  inhabited  by  the  brown  race, 
the  apex  being  the  Fiji  Islands.  The  accepted  theory, 
until  recently,  has  been  that  the  brown  Polynesians 
belong  to  the  Malay  race.  Later  investigations,  by  Judge 
Foniander,  of  the  Hawaiian  Islands,  and  certain  German 
scholars,  render  it  probable  that  they  may  be  a branch 
of  the  Caucasian  race.  It  is  thought  that  by  means  of 
their  languages,  traditions,  and  mythologies,  the  Poly- 
nesians can  be  traced  back  from  their  present  abode, 
step  by  step,  through  the  island  groups  of  the  Pacific 


MICRONESIA. 


3 


and  Indian  Oceans,  to  the  Indian  Peninsula,  and  onward 
to  the  central  tablelands  of  Asia,  whence  the  Caucasian 
races,  in  the  beginnings  of  history,  emigrated  westward 
and  southward.  In  those  groups  in  which  tlie  different 
islands  are  near  enough  to  allow  of  communication,  even 
though  comparatively  infrequent,  there  is  usually  a 
common  language;  where  widely  separated,  different 
languages  have  been  developed.  Most  of  the  various 
dialects  abound  in  vowel  sounds,  two  consonants  rarely 
coming  together  in  the  middle  of  a word,  and  all  words 
ending  in  vowels. 

KELIGIOUS  BELIEFS. 

Religious  beliefs  and  observances  varied  with  different 
groups,  yet  had  certain  characteristics  in  common. 
Tlie  people  were  not  idolaters.  Tliey  believed  in  the 
existence  of  spiritual  beings,  whose  power  they  feared 
and  whose  anger  they  sought  in  many  ways  to  avert. 
But  we  never  found  any  conception  of  a supreme  Deity, 
or  a belief  in  one  Spirit  surpassing  all  others  in  power. 
They  believed  that  the  spirit  of  man  survived  liis  death, 
and  lived  on  in  one  of  two  places,  or  states,  one  more 
desirable  than  the  other,  but  with  no  difference  based  on 
clearly-defined  desert,  or  moral  character.  They  recog- 
nized the  fundamental  distinction  between  right  and 
wrong,  and  the  binding  force  of  most  of  the  Decalogue, 
when  it  was  presented  to  them. 

On  some  of  the  islands  there  was  a regular  priesthood, 
with  rites  of  worship ; on  others,  little  more  than  certain 
superstitious  observances.  They  prayed  to  spirits,  and 
offered  gifts  and  oblations.  Their  traditions  and  mythol- 
ogies were  usually  only  a confused  jumble,  and  their 
religious  beliefs  seemed  to  have  little  inlluence  on  their 
character.  Christianity  has  to  overcome  rather  the 
inertia  and  the  opposition  of  wicked  hearts,  than  any 
firm  adherence  to  their  beliefs. 


4 


MICROXESIA. 


MISSIONARY  WORK. 

The  missionary  work  among  the  islands  l3’ing  south  of 
the  equator  is  carried  on  by  various  English  societies, 
the  London  Missionary  Society  taking  the  lead.  The 
islands  north  of  the  equator  are  the  held  of  the  American 
Board,  no  other  society  occupying  anj'  portion  of  the 
field. 

Our  work  in  Micronesia  was  begun  in  1852,  the  pioneer 
band  consisting  of  Revs.  Benjamin  G.  Snow,  Luther 
II.  Gulick,  M.  D.,  and  Albert  A.  Sturges,  with  their 
wives,  and  two  Hawaiian  families.  Ponape  and  Kusaie, 
of  the  Caroline  Islands,  were  occupied.  From  two  to  six 
families  of  white  laborers  have  been  at  work  in  the 
various  groups  for  thirty  years.  The  night  of  toil  was 
long,  but  the  morning  at  length  began  to  dawn.  Tlie 
confidence  of  the  natives  had  to  be  won,  their  languages 
acquired  and  reduced  to  writing,  and  the  Scriptures 
translated.  Homes,  churches,  and  schoolhouses  were 
built.  The  people  were  given  the  rudiments  of  an 
education,  and  taught  the  vital  truths  of  Christianity. 
Churches  were  gathered  and  instructed,  and  native  youth 
were  trained  to  become  teachers  and  pastors  at  home  as 
well  as  foreign  missionaries  in  the  islands  beyond.  At 
the  beginning,  the  people  were  savages,  ha\ing,  on  some 
of  the  islands,  the  vices  and  diseases  of  civilization 
superadded  to  their  own.  Now,  at  the  end  of  these 
thirty  years,  “what  hath  God  wrought”?  'Five 
languages  have  been  reduced  to  writing,  and  school- 
books prepared  and  printed  in  all  of  them.  From  fifty 
to  one  hundred  and  fifty  h3'mns  have  been  translated, 
or  composed,  and  set  to  music.  Books  of  Bible  stories 
and  catechisms  have  been  prepared,  and  portions  of  the 
Scriptures  translated.  The  whole  New  Testament  has 
been  put  into  two  of  these  dialects,  and  in  one  — that  of 
the  Gilbert  Islands  — it  has  already  reached  the  fourth 

» See  page  21. 


MICEONESIA. 


5 


edition.  Twenty-nine  different  islands  are  now  occupied, 
and  on  fully  half  of  them  heathenism  has  disappeared. 
More  than  twenty  native  preachers  have  been  raised 
up,  of  whom  the  majority  are  doing  faithful  and  effective 
work.  There  are  about  forty  organized  churches,  with 
a membership,  it  is  estimated,  of  nearly  thirty-five  hun- 
dred. 


THE  GILBERT  ISLANDS. 

The  Gilbert  Islands  lie  on  both  sides  of  the  equator 
and  a little  bc3'ond  the  ISOth  meridian.  They  are  six- 
teen in  number,  with  a thin  soil,  scanty  rainfall,  and 
limited  vegetation.  The  cocoanut-palm  thrives  here,  as 
well  as  the pandanus^  or  screw-pine;  but  almost  nothing 
else  which  can  furnish  food  for  human  beings.  Advo- 
cates of  a meagre  diet,  as  conducive  to  health,  might  do 
well  to  emigrate  to  the  Gilbert  Islands.  If  they  survive 
the  experiment,  their  testimony  will  be  interesting; 
possibl}',  however,  a little  “thin.”  The  same  language 
is  spoken  on  all  of  these  islands.  The  people  are 
naturally  hardy,  savage,  and  quarrelsome.  They  wear 
very  little  clothing,  and  men  were  frequently  seen 
entirely  naked.  The  bodies  of  the  men  are  often  covered 
with  scars,  and  no  dandy  is  more  proud  of  his  rings  and 
Jewels  than  are  these  men  of  the  unsightl}'  scars  which 
indicate  their  prowess.  AVhile  not  cannibals  in  the  same 
sense  as  were  the  Fiji  Islanders,  yet  it  is  said  that  on 
some  of  the  islands  there  is  probably  not  an  adult  male 
who  has  not  tasted  human  flesh. 

The  onlj'  water  fit  to  drink  on  all  coral  islands  is  rain- 
water. Missionaries  living  on  the  Gilbert  Islands  are 
obliged  to  depend  almost  entirely  upon  foreign  food, 
which  is  never  perfectly  fresh,  and  always  preserved 
with  dilHculty.  Ilev.  Hiram  Bingham,  Jr.,  with  his 
devoted  wife,  began  work  here  in  1857,  and  labored  on 
alone,  with  their  Ilawaiian  helpers,  until  1874.  Fre- 


6 


MICROXESIA. 


quently  they  were  obliged,  in  self-preservation,  to  flee 
for  a season  to  a more  salubrious  dime;  until,  at  last, 
utterly  broken  in  health,  they  were  compelled  to  take  up 
tlieir  residence  at  Honolulu,  where  they  still  continue 
their  labors  of  love  among  Gilbert  Islanders  who  have 
been  brought  to  Hawaii  as  laborers.  The  days  of 
martyrs  and  heroes  of  faith  are  not  yet  past. 

Rev.  II.  J.  Taylor,  sou  of  “ Father  Taylor  ” of  the 
Madura  Mission,  — like  Mr.  Bingham,  born  in  the  mis- 
sion field,  — went  with  his  jmung  wife  to  the  Gilbert 
Islands,  in  1874,  to  reinforce  Mr.  Bingham ; but  before 
she  had  been  on  Apalang  six  weeks,  Mrs.  Taylor  died  of 
fever,  and  was  buried  under  the  cocoa-trees.  A few 
months  later,  Mr.  Bingham  was  obliged  to  flee  for  his 
life  to  Samoa,  and  then  to  Auckland.  Mr.  Taylor  was 
left  alone  with  his  infant  son.  He  acquired  the  language, 
won  the  confidence  of  the  natives,  and  labored  most 
effectively  for  two  years,  when  he,  too,  was  compelled  to 
flee  for  his  life.  ^Vftei’  some  years  spent  in  America,  — 
having  recovered  his  health,  and  married  again,  — he 
returned  to  the  field  with  Rev.  A.  C.  Walkup  and  uife, 
only  to  lay  his  second  wife  beside  her  sister.  And  now, 
with  his  three  motherless  children,  he  is  compelled  to 
retire  from  the  work.  Mrs.  Walkup’s  life  was  only 
saved  by  her  going  to  Kusaie,  and  ultimately  to  her  old 
home  in  Kansas.  Hence  the  Board  has  been  constrained 
reluctantly  to  withdraw  its  missionaries  from  the  Gilbert 
Islands,  taking  them  seven  hundred  miles  to  Kusaie,  a 
high,  fertile  island,  the  easternmost  of  the  Caroline 
group.  Here,  also,  the  Gilbert  Island  youth  will  be 
brought  and,  amid  beautiful  surroundings  and  in  a much 
more  salubrious  climate,  will  be  trained  to  carry  on 
the  work  among  their  owm  people,  in  connection  uith 
Hawaiian  missionaries.  The  lives  of  the  missionaries  on 
the  Gilbert  Islands  have  often  been  in  danger ; they  have 
sowed  in  tears  and  with  long  waiting ; but  their  labors 


MICEOXESIA. 


7 


and  sacrifices  have  not  been  in  vain  in  the  Lord.  The 
Morning  Star,  on  her  trip  in  18S3,  found  three  hundred 
candidates  for  baptism  on  one  island,  two  hundred  on 
another,  while  on  a third,  an  island  where  a few  years 
ago  even  the  Morning  Star's  boat  dared  not  land,  the 
people  were  found  anxious  to  be  taught. 

THE  MARSHALL  ISLANDS. 

The  Marshall  Islands  lie  northwest  of  the  Gilbert,  and 
are  very  numerous,  the  atolls  l}dng  like  great  strings  of 
green  beads  on  the  surface  of  the  water.  IVe  have  here 
a fine,  athletic  race,  speaking  a diflerent  language,  more 
skilful  in  various  handicrafts,  less  savage,  yet  bold  and 
warlike,  not  hesitating  in  former  times  even  to  attack 
large  vessels.  The  Gilbert  Islanders  are  a very  intem- 
perate people,  while  the  Marshall  Islanders,  until 
foreigners  had  corrupted  them,  had  no  taste  for  intox- 
icants. 

The  work,  begun  here  in  1857  by  Eev.  Edw.ard  T. 
Doane  and  Eev.  George  Pierson,  m.d.,  has  been  carried 
on  principally  by  Eev.  B.  G.  Snow  and  Eev.  J.  F.  Whit- 
ney, with  their  wives.  Eev.  E.  M.  Pease,  M.  d.,  who 
served  through  the  war  of  the  Eebellion  as  surgeon,  and 
later  in  the  regular  army,  with  his  wife  and  Miss  L.  S. 
Cathcart  are  now  the  only  laborers  in  this  field.  * Their 
home  is  on  the  beautiful  island  of  Kusaie,  where,  through 
the  training-school,  they  are  raising  up  laborers  who  are 
to  do  the  work  of  this  field.  The  work  moves  slowly  on, 
but  enough  has  been  done  to  give  bright  hopes  for  the 
future. 

THE  CAROLINE  GROUP. 

This  group  is  composed  of  many  islands,  five  only 
being  high  ground,  namely : Kusaie  or  Strong’s  Island, 
Ponape,  Euk  or  Hogolu,  Yap,  and  Pelew.  The  inhab- 
itants are,  probably,  of  mixed  origin.  We  find  here 


• See  page  18. 


8 


MICRONESIA. 


languages  in  which  words  often  end  in  consonants.  On 
some  of  tlie  islands  the  people  are  woolly  haired ; many 
of  them  have  faces  decidedly  Chinese  or  Japanese.  The 
islands  are  much  more  widely  scattered  than  those  of 
the  Marshall  and  Gilbert  groups.  Hence,  while  one 
language  is  spoken  on  all  the  islands  of  each  of  the 
latter  groups,  we  already  know  of  six  different  languages 
in  the  Caroline  Archipelago;  and  a more  thorough 
exploration  of  the  western  portion  will  probably  reveal 
one  or  two  more. 

In  these  islands  we  have  specimens  of  every  kind  of 
coral  reef.  Kusaie  has  a fringing  reef,  only  here  and 
there  detached  from  the  shores.  Ponape  has  a most 
beautiful  specimen  of  the  barrier  reef,  being  entirely 
encircled  by  one  which  is  separated  from  the  island  by 
from  two  to  eight  miles  of  water.  Through  this  reef 
there  are  several  passages,  and,  when  once  within,  the 
largest  vessels  might  sail  two  thirds  around  the  island  in 
the  calm  waters  of  the  lagoon.  At  Ruk  also  we  have 
the  barrier  reef,  nearly  two  hundred  miles  in  circum- 
ference, while  the  island,  to  which  it  was  probably  once 
attached,  has  so  far  sunk  beneath  the  waves  that  only 
the  mountain-tops  are  left,  forming  numerous  islands, 
from  a few  rods  to  five  or  six  miles  in  diameter.  Then 
there  are  the  atolls,  of  all  sizes  and  shapes ; sometimes 
so  large  that  one  cannot  see  across  from  one  side  to  the 
other. 

These  islands  lie  so  near  the  equator,  that  the  days  and 
nights  are  of  nearly  equal  length  throughout  the  year. 
The  climate  is  equable,  the  variation  of  the  thermometer 
being  no  more  than  1.5  degrees  Fahrenheit  — from  72 
degrees  to  87  degrees.  The  r.ainfall  is  excessive,  yet 
malarial  disorders  are  practically  unknown. 

In  the  palmy  days  of  the  whale  fishery,  the  harbors 
of  Ponape  and  Kusaie  were  much  frequented  by  whale- 
ships  ; and  the  influence  upon  the  natives  from  contact 


MICRONESIA. 


9 


with  this  kind  of  civilization  was  most  demoralizing. 
Not  a few  runaway  sailors  and  others  made  their  homes 
among  the  natives,  and  vice,  intemperance,  and  licen- 
tiousness ran  riot. 

In  1852,  Rev.  A.  A.  Sturges  and  Rev.  L.  II.  Gulick, 
M.  D.,  began  work  on  Ponape;  and  Rev.  B.  G.  Snow  on 
Kusaie.  Eight  long  years  passed  before  the  first  con- 
vert was  made.  The  missionaries’  lives  were  sometimes 
in  danger.  There  were  times  when  no  native  could  even 
be  hired  to  do  any  service  for  a missionary.  AVhite 
men  opposed  in  every  way  — even  robbing  the  mission- 
aries and  threatening  to  bombard  their  premises. 

But  the  gospel  tnumphed.  Kusaie  is  to-day  beau- 
tiful, not  only  in  its  natural  features  which  give  it  the 
name  of  the  “ Gem  of  tlie  Pacific,”  but  also  in  the 
character  of  its  inhabitants.  On  Ponape  the  triumph  of 
the  gospel  is  not  so  complete.  There  is  still  left  a 
heathen  party ; but  the  majoi  ity  of  the  inhabitants  are 
at  least  nominally  Christians;  and,  for  ten  years  past, 
natives  of  Ponape  have  been  doing  missionary  work  on 
neighboring  islands. 


1’IKGEI.AP. 

In  1871,  Mr.  Sturges,  on  his  return  voyage  from  the 
United  States,  touched  at  Pingelap,  a coral  island,  one 
hundred  and  fifty  miles  east  of  Ponape.  The  inhab- 
itants, numbering  about  one  thousand,  were  wild,  rude 
savages,  almost  naked,  living  in  houses  little  better  than 
kennels,  and  utterly  unacapiaintcd  with  Christian  truth. 
Mr.  Sturges  had  visited  the  island  before,  but  could  find 
no  opening  for  the  gos[)el.  Now.  however,  he  found  the 
people  willing  to  listen;  and  at  length  they  promised  to 
receive  teachers  from  Ponape.  With  a glad  and  thank- 
ful heart  Mr.  Sturges  went  to  Ponape,  gathered  the 
Christians  together,  and  told  them  that  God  had  opened 
the  door  into  Pingelap.  He  called  for  volunteers  to  go 


10 


MICEOXESIA. 


and  tell  those  people  the  way  of  life.  Two  families  were 
chosen,  and  soon  after  embarked  on  the  JHorning  Star  for 
their  destination. 

On  their  arrival  they  found  the  natives  sullen,  inhos- 
pitable, and  utterly  unwilling  to  receive  the  teachers. 
Mr.  Stui’ges  inquired  the  reason  of  their  refusal.  The 
high-priest  of  the  island,  who  was  also  a chief,  second 
in  rank  to  the  king,  produced  a paper  which  the  mis- 
sionary found  to  be  an  agreement  between  one  Captain 
Ilaj'es  — a trader  whose  vessel  lay  at  anchor  at  Ponape 
when  Mr.  Sturges  arrived  in  quest  of  teachers  — and  the 
chiefs  of  the  island,  by  which  they  bound  themselves  for 
ten  years  neither  to  receive  teachers  nor  to  trade  \\ith 
any  other  white  man.  Its  contents  had  been  explained 
to  them,  and  they  had  made  their  marks,  and  now  held 
the  obligation  to  be  binding.  Captain  Hayes  well  knew 
that  missionary  influence  would  interfere  'with  his  unlaw- 
ful gains,  and  especially  his  licentious  habits.  Hence  his 
oj^position. 

Mr.  Stui-ges  was  compelled  to  return,  and  the  powers 
of  darkness,  for  the  time,  triumphed.  But  God  works  in 
his  own  way. 

Six  natives  of  Pingelap  had  preWously  been  brought 
to  Ponape  by  a trader,  as  his  servants.  When  their  time  of 
service  ended,  he  set  them  adi-ift;  and,  being  strangers 
in  a strange  land,  they  knew  not  what  to  do.  Presently 
they  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  missionarj',  to  whom  they 
resorted  in  their  trouble,  and  Avere  permitted  to  use  some 
native  houses  and  to  cultivate  a piece  of  land.  Thej' 
were  also  invited  to  attend  school.  They  became  so 
interested  that  at  length  they  sat  up  often  until  midnight 
to  study  by  the  light  of  a cocoauut-oil  lamp.  In  a few 
months  two  of  them  began  to  read  the  Gospels,  Avhich 
had  been  translated  into  the  Ponapean  tongue.  They 
gave  such  good  evidence  that  the  truth  had  found  a 
lodgment  in  their  hearts,  that  they  were  baptized,  one 


MICRONESIA. 


11 


receiving  the  name  of  Thomas,  the  other  of  David. 
After  eight  montlis  of  schooling,  a vessel  touched  at 
Ponape,  whose  captain  kindly  offered  to  carry  them  hack 
to  their  homes.  Mr.  Sturges  advised  them  to  go  and  tell 
their  people  what  they  had  learned  of  Jesus  and  the  way 
of  life. 

They  went,  and  at  once  began  telling  the  “ old,  old 
story.”  Violent  opposition  was  aroused,  hut  they  per- 
sisted. Finally  the  heathen  high-priest,  as  at  Carmel  of 
old,  gathered  a large  assembly,  promising  by  incanta- 
tions to  kill  Thomas  and  David.  While  performing  the 
preliminary  rites,  he  became  so  frenzied  that  he  fell 
prostrate,  and  lay  like  one  dead.  Tiie  natives  gathered 
about  him,  and  used  all  the  restorative  processes  they 
knew  of,  but  without  avail.  They  thought  him  dead. 
It  occurred  to  some  one  to  summon  the  teachers.  They 
came,  and,  kneeling  beside  the  j)rostrate  form,  engaged 
in  prayer.  The  priest  returned  to  consciousness  before 
the  prayer  was  linished;  and  the  multitude  at  once 
declared  that  the  new  religion  had  triumphed.  The 
people  were  now  more  willing  to  listen,  ;ind  the  next 
news  wafted  to  Ponape  was  that  Pingelap  had  forsaken 
its  old  hostilit}',  and  was  earnestly  seeking  the  light. 

A teacher  was  at  once  sent  from  Ponape,  and  the 
progress  was  wonderful.  Their  houses  had  been  only 
thatched  roofs,  the  eaves  resting  on  the  ground.  A hole 
in  the  gable,  through  which  the  occupants  crawled  on 
their  hands  and  knees,  served  for  both  door  and  window. 
There  was  no  floor  save  a few  cocoanut  leaves  spread  on 
the  ground.  But  the  people  now  selected  a beautiful  site 
on  the  beach,  and  built  for  themselves  a village  of  houses, 
raised  on  posts,  with  floors  and  sides,  doors,  and  openings 
for  windows.  Coral  was  burned  to  make  lime,  and  the 
whole  neatly  whitewashed.  Coral  rock  was  dug  out  of 
the  reef,  and  a church  large  enough  to  seat  six  hundi-ed 
was  b*iilt ; also  a commodious  dwelling  for  their  teacher. 


12 


MICROXESIA. 


Cloth  was  bouglit  of  the  traders,  and  men,  women,  and 
children  Avere  soon  decently  clothed.  The  day-school 
numbered  sometimes  tliree  hundred,  and  the  Sabbath- 
school  filled  the  great  church.  Morning  and  evening,  as 
Avell  as  on  the  Sabbath,  nearly  the  entire  population 
assembled  to  hear  the  gospel.  Liquor  and  tobacco  were 
banished  from  the  island,  and  the  ten  commandments 
became  their  code  of  laws.  A police  force  was  chosen, 
a stone  jail  erected,  and  justice  administered  so  speedily 
and,  on  the  whole,  so  justlj%  that  their  court  procedures 
might  perhaps  be  copied  with  advantage  even  by  more 
civilized  communities. 

Xor  was  this  a transient  wave  of  enthusiasm.  They 
have  gone  steadily  on  for  twelve  years,'  with  less  of 
reaction  than  often  follows  revival  seasons  at  home. 
Thomas  returned  to  Ponape,  and,  having  spent  three 
j-ears  in  school,  is  now  the  ordained  pastor  of  a church 
of  about  tAvo  hundred  and  fifty  members,  beloved  and 
respected  by  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  island.  All  this 
has  been  accomplished  Avithout  expense  to  Christians  at 
home,  except  so  much  as  is  iuAmlved  in  the  yearly  visits 
of  the  Morning  Star. 

The  Pingelap  church  has  sent  out  one  of  its  members 
as  a missionaiy  to  the  islands  beyond,  and  their  yearlj" 
contributions  to  the  American  Board  are  not  far  from  one 
hundi’ed  dollars. 


THE  MORTLOCKS. 

Three  hundred  miles  soutliAvestward  from  Ponape  are 
the  Mortlock  Islands,  a subordinate  group  of  three  atolls  * 
in  the  Caroline  Archipelago.  The  population  is  about 
thirty-fiA’e  hundred.  In  December,  187.S,  three  Ponapean 
families  AAere  carried  thither  b}’'  the  Morning  Star. 
The  language  Avas  found  to  be  diflerent  from  that 
spoken  on  Ponape.  A Avhite  man  living  on  one  of  tlie 

*An  atoll  is  a coral  reef  enclosing  a lagoon.  This  reef  may  be 
entirely  barren  or  may  have  one  or  more  habitable  islets. 

•See  page  18. 


MICROXESIA. 


13 


islands  acted  as  interpreter.  The  chiefs  and  people  were 
asked  if  they  would  receive  teachers  from  Ponape.  They 
had  seen  something  of  the  white  man's  skill,  had  heard 
vague  reports  of  the  blessings  brought  by  Christianity  to 
other  islands,  and  were  thus  predisposed  to  a favorable 
answer.  Mr.  Sturges  said  to  them : “ These  teachers 
must  be  fed  and  housed.  Will  you  provide  for  them?” 
They  answered : “Yes.”  Mr.  Sturges  then  turned  to  the 
teachers  and  said : “ Y'ou  hear  what  tliese  chiefs  promise. 
Are  you  willing  to  take  the  risk?  I have  not  so  much  as 
a fish-hook  to  leave  with  j'ou,  with  which  to  buy  food.” 
Tliese  Ponape  teachers  had  left  home,  friends,  and  native 
island  with  the  understanding  that  they  were  to  receive 
no  pay  for  their  missionary  work,  and  must  trust  the 
people  to  whom  they  went  for  food.  Food  is  always 
plenty  and  of  good  quality  on  Ponape,  but  the  products 
of  these  islands  are  few  and  inferior.  They  knew  the 
risk  they  were  taking,  — notliing  less  than  starvation  in 
case  these  heathen  went  back  on  their  word.  Yet  they 
promptly  said : “ We  are  willing  to  stay.” 

Their  few  effects  were  then  landed,  and  the  Morniug 
Star  sailed  away.  Toward  the  close  of  the  next  year  the 
vessel  came  again  to  Ponape  on  her  yearly  voyage  to  the 
mission  stations  in  Micronesia.  Mr.  Sturges  embarked 
to  visit  “Ids  children”  at  the  west.  You  can  scarcely 
imagine  his  feelings  as  the  vessel  drew  near  the  Mort- 
locks  The  love  of  the  missionary  for  his  converts  is 
something  like  that  of  a mother  for  her  child.  Would  he 
find  that  the  chiefs  had  kept  faith  with  the  teachers?  and 
were  they  alive,  prosperous,  and  happy? 

The  Morning  Star  sailed  into  the  lagoon  of  Lukunor, 
the  eastern  island  of  the  Mort  locks.  Before  she  dropped 
anchor,  a canoe  was  seen  to  put  off  from  the  shore.  As 
it  drew  near,  one  of  the  teachers  was  recognized,  and 
soon  the  missionary  had  him  by  the  hand.  Y'es,  the 
natives  had  kept  faith,  and  provided  for  them,  even 
while  they  themselves  suffered  from  famine.  A 


14 


MICRONESIA. 


hurricane  had  swept  the  great  waves  over  the  land, 
which,  at  high  tide,  is  but  six  or  eight  feet  above  the 
ocean  level.  The  salt  water  had  killed  the  bread-fruit 
trees  and  ruined  the  taro  patclies.  Men,  women,  and 
children  had  died  from  starvation,  yet  they  had  kept  their 
promise  and  fed  their  teachers ! 

After  a few  da}'S  of  deliglitful  sojourn  the  Morning  Star 
sailed  away,  and  left  them  for  another  j-ear.  The  parting 
was  a sad  one.  The  teachers  were  lonely;  they  were 
homesick;  even  the  men  were  in  tears.  Mr.  Sturges 
offered  to  take  them  back,  but  they  said:  “ No,  we  will 
stay.” 

The  next  year,  Mr.  Sturges  again  embarked  for  a 
second  visit.  The  vessel  entered  the  lagoon  as  before. 
A boat  was  lowered,  and  the  missionary  soon  found  him- 
self approaching  several  hundred  natives  on  the  shore. 
As  he  drew  near,  there  came  floating  out  over  the  deep 
a song  of  welcome,  the  words  of  which  he  was  unable  to 
distinguish,  nor  could  he  have  understood  them  if  he 
had.  It  was  a song  of  welcome  to  the  Morning  Star, 
composed  by  the  missionaries  on  Ponape.  The  native 
teachers  had  translated  the  words  into  Mortlock,  and 
there,  on  the  white  coral  sand,  under  the  shade  of  the 
cocoa-trees,  were  hundreds  of  people  of  both  sexes  and 
of  all  ages,  singing  this  song  of  welcome.  As  the  boat 
touched  the  shore,  they  eagerly  crowded  forward  to  grasj) 
the  missionarj'^'s  hand.  He  was  then  led  by  the  teachers, 
first,  to  the  comfortable  dwellings  in  the  shade  of  the 
cocoa-trees;  then  a few  rods  further  inland,  where,  in 
a grove  of  bread-fruit  trees,  stood  a church. 

Timbers  had  been  sawn,  and  a frame  erected,  not 
unlike  that  of  an  oldtime  New  England  barn.  The  floor 
and  the  sides  were  of  hewn  plank  of  the  bread-fruit 
trees,  each  one  representing  a log,  as  this  timber  'vill  not 
split.  The  roof  was  of  thatch,  the  doors  and  windows 
simply  openings.  Within,  at  the  farther  end,  was  a 
raised  platform,  a rude  settee,  and  a pulpit. 


MICKOXESIA. 


16 


Thither  the  missionary  and  teachers  made  their  way. 
The  church  was  packed  with  natives  sitting  on  the  floor. 
A hymn  was  sung,  and,  though  out  of  harmony,  their 
voices  were  sweet.  One  and  another  then  oflered  prayer ; 
after  which,  many  (the  husband  in  all  cases  sitting  b)' 
his  wife)  presented  themselves  as  candidates  for  baptism. 
Having  been  carefully  examined,  many  were  approved, 
and,  later  in  the  day,  baptized  and  organized  into  a 
Christian  church.  At  each  of  three  stations,  on  as  many 
islets,  the  same  scene  was  enacted.  All  this,  at  the  close 
of  the  second  year’s  labor,  by  men  and  women  themselves 
born  and  bred  in  heathenism ! 

The  work  thus  begun  went  on  until  there  was  a 
church  on  each  of  the  seven  inhabited  islets  of  the 
Mortlock  group,  'llie  teachers  were  from  time  to  time 
reinforced  from  Ponape,  and  the  v/ork  spread  to  three 
other  islands  beyond,  with  the  same  wonderful  success. 

RUK. 

Two  liundred  miles  northwest  of  the  Mortlocks  lies 
the  lagoon  of  Ruk.  A great  coral  reef  nearly  two 
hundred  miles  in  circumference  surrounds  a large 
number  of  islands  varying  in  size  from  a mere  speck  to 
those  with  a circuit  of  twenty  or  twenty-five  miles.  The 
inhabitants  number  ten  or  twelve  thousand,  and  are 
naturally  very  fierce  and  barbarous,  ever  at  war  among 
themselves,  and  merciless  toward  the  white  man. 

Our  eyes  had  long  been  turned  toward  lluk  in  vain ; 
but  the  Lord,  at  length,  opened  the  way.  A native 
teacher,  named  Moses,  had  been  stationed  on  Xama,  forty 
miles  from  Ruk.  After  a while  a chief  from  one  of 
these  islands,  with  some  of  Ids  followers,  came  to  Mama. 
From  curiosity  they  went  to  hear  Closes  preach,  became 
interested,  and  then  took  a small  house  near  the  teacher, 
that  they  might  constantly  attend  the  services.  When 
the  Morning  Star  made  its  yearly  round,  this  chief 
pleaded  for  a teacher  for  ids  own  people.  Moses  was  the 


16 


5IICR0NESIA. 


chosen  man ; and,  leaving  a new  teacher  in  his  place,  he 
went  with  the  chief  to  the  lagoon  of  Euk.  The  life  of 
Moses  was  sometimes  in  danger,  but  after  a year  he  was 
found  living  in  a comfortable  house,  ^^hich  the  natives 
had  built  for  him ; and  in  a beautiful  grove,  near  by>, 
stood  a nearly  completed  church.  Thirty-six  men  and 
women  offered  themselves  as  candidates  for  baptism; 
twenty-four  of  whom  were  approved,  and  organized  into 
the  first  church  of  Uman. 

This  was  in  the  year  1880.  Moses  has  since  been  rein- 
forced, and  four  organized  churches,  on  as  many  islands, 
are  the  fruit  of  their  labors,  and  every  island  in  the 
lagoon  is  calling  for  teachers.  Wars  are  now  infrequent. 
The  people  lie  down  in  security  at  night,  and  cultivate 
their  lands  in  peace.  Hundreds  of  children  and  3'outh  are 
taught  to  read  and  write,  and  man}’^  souls  are  bora  into 
the  kingdom. 

Reports  of  the  good  work  have  spread  to  the  islands 
beyond,  and  fi-om  them  comes  a similar  call  for  gospel 
heli)ers.  These  teachei’S  work  Avithout  salaiy,  asking 
from  the  Board  only  their  clothing  and  a few  simple 
articles  of  furniture.  About  one  thiial  of  the  islands  in 
the  Caroline  Archipelago  have  been  already  occupied. 
On  nine  of  them  heathenism  has  been  entirely  over- 
thrown, and  on  the  residue  it  bids  fair  to  be  soon 
extinguished. 

Doubtless,  with  God’s  blessing,  and  wdth  a sufficient 
force  of  Avhite  missionaries  to  man  the  training-schools, 
and  supervise  the  work,  and  Avith  a neAv  Morning  Star, 
Avith  auxiliarj'  steam-poAver,  Avhich  on  account  of  catnis 
and  currents  in  the  Pacific  is  greatlj"  needed,  eveiy  island 
might  be  evangelized  Avithin  the  lifetime  of  one 
generation.  These  islands  are  literally  Availing  for  God's 
laAv,  and  no  other  agenej^  except  that  which  is  under  the 
care  of  the  American  Board  is  at  Avork  in  the  field.  May 
God  enable  us  all  to  be  faithful  to  this  sacred  trust  ! 


APPENDIX. 


February,  1890. 

In  the  last  paragraph  of  the  preceding  sketch  Mr. 
Logan  alluded  to  the  need  of  a new  Morning  Star,  with 
auxiliary  steam-power.  Largelj'  through  his  represen- 
tations as  to  this  need,  such  a vessel  was  built  in  the 
year  1884,  being  the  fourth  vessel  of  that  name  which 
has  been  constructed  by  the  American  Board.  As  these 
vessels  have  played  an  important  part  in  the  missionary 
work  in  Micronesia,  the  following  account  of  them  will 
be  in  place  here.  The  first  was  a barkentine,  launched 
in  1856,  which,  proving  inadequate  for  the  service  re- 
quired, was  sold  ten  years  later,  and  a second  Morning 
Star  was  built  in  1866.  Three  years  later,  October  18, 
1869,  this  vessel  was  wrecked  by  drifting  upon  the  rocks 
of  Kusaie.  The  third  Morning  Star  was  a barque  of 
181  tons,  which  was  wrecked  while  entering  the  harbor 
of  Kusaie,  February  22,  1883.  Before  tidings  of  her 
loss  were  received,  the  fourth  Star  was  under  construc- 
tion and  was  launched  at  Bath,  Maine,  August  6,  1884. 
She  is  a barkentine  of  about  430  tons  measurement, 
with  auxiliary  steam-power  specially  designed  for  use 
in  the  calms  which  are  to  be  encountered  throughout 
Micronesia  and  in  entering  the  narrow  channels  of  the 
harbors,  which  it  is  often  impossible  to  enter  if  depend- 
ence is  placed  upon  sails.  The  amount  raised  for  the 
building  of  these  four  vessels,  over  and  above  the  insur- 
ance received  for  those  that  were  wrecked,  has  been 
8114,593.33.  This  amount  has  been  contributed  chiefly 
by  the  children,  and  in  small  sums,  and  besides  building 
the  vessels  has  aided,  to  some  extent,  in  necessary 
repairs  and  running  expenses.  Since  1887,  the  Star  has 
been  under  the  command  of  Captain  George  F.  Garland. 


18 


APPENDIX. 


In  the  year  1884,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Logan  sailed  again  for 
Micronesia  to  take  up  their  abode  on  the  island  of  Puk. 
Miss  Annette  A.  Palmer  also  joined  the  mission,  to  be 
connected  with  the  Girls’  School  on  Ponape.  The 
natives  at  Ruk  had  built  a church  in  anticipation  of 
the  coining  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Logan,  and  the  same  year 
Mr.  Henry  Worth,  an  American  who  had  been  residing 
at  Ponape  and  while  there  had  been  converted  to  Christ, 
went  to  Mr.  Logan’s  assistance.  The  report  from  the 
Gilbert  Islands  for  the  year  1884  states  that  there  were 
then  nine  churches,  with  a membership  of  1,716,  of 
whom  558  were  received  on  confession  of  their  faith 
during  the  previous  year.  Five  of  these  Gilbert  Island 
churches  had  Hawaiian  missionaries  for  pastors,  receiv- 
ing their  support  from  the  Hawaiian  Evangelical  Associ- 
ation. 

In  the  year  1886  Miss  E.  T.  Crosby  went  to  Kusaie  to 
take  the  place  of  Miss  Cathcart  in  the  Marshall  Islands 
Training  School,  the  health  of  the  latter  having  com- 
pelled her  return  to  the  United  States.  The  same  year 
Miss  Sarah  L.  Smith  and  Miss  L.  E.  Hemingway  joined 
the  mission  at  Kusaie,  but  the  latter  was  compelled  to 
return  at  once  to  the  United  States  on  account  of  her 
health.  During  this  year  evil  influences  seemed  to  gain 
great  headway  throughout  many  of  the  Gilbert  Island 
churches.  On  the  voyage  of  the  Star  in  1885-86,  Dr. 
C.  H.  Wetmore,  of  Honolulu,  visited  the  mission  as  a 
delegate  of  the  Hawaiian  Evangelical  Association.  He 
gave  a cheering  report  of  what  he  saw.  Of  one  of  the 
islands,  Pingelap,  on  which  there  had  been  no  foreign 
missionary,  but  only  a native  pastor.  Dr.  Wetmore  says : 
“ We  landed  at  Pingelap,  where  a multitude  of  chil- 
dren met  us  at  the  beach,  singing  their  beautiful  story, 
ending  with  ‘ Glory,  glory,  hallelujah ! ’ We  spent  two 
days  here  watching  the  diflerent  phases  of  the  work,  in 
all  of  which  we  were  much  interested.  The  change 
effected  here  in  less  than  fourteen  years  by  Thomas, 


APPENDIX. 


19 


helped  by  Manassa  and  Tepit  in  the  earlier  labors,  after 
strenuous  exertions  had  been  put  forth  to  ‘ prevent  the 
coming  of  the  missionary  God,’  is  perfectly  marvelous. 
Their  church  is  almost  large  enough  to  seat  one  thou- 
sand people,  the  entire  population  of  the  island.  Its 
walls  are  built  of  coral  stone  laid  up  with  mortar ; the 
roof  is  thatched  and  the  floors  are  made  of  breadfruit 
planks.  There  was  also  a long  flat  pavement  about  five 
feet  wide.  The  materials  for  it  were  quarried  from  the 
coral-reef ; some  of  the  stones  were  a fathom  and  a half 
long,  three  feet  wide,  and  four  or  five  inches  thick. 
T’his  pavement  was  about  an  eighth  of  a mile  long, 
extending  along  the  entire  length  of  their  village  of 
huts  and  houses.  All  these  things  show  both  industry 
and  interest  in  the  church  enterprise.”  The  work  at 
Ruk  and  the  Mortlocks  was  also  found  to  be  in  excel- 
lent condition.  In  the  two  groups  there  were  fifteen 
churches,  with  over  1,000  members  and  a little  less 
tha.i  1.000  pupils  in  the  day-schools.  Dr.  Wetmore  was 
greatly  pleased  at  what  he  saw  at  Anapauo,  the  station 
of  Mr.  Logan.  The  changes  that  had  been  effected  in 
its  surroundings  in  the  way  of  clearing,  planting,  and 
building,  during  the  year  and  a half  the  station  had 
been  occupied,  were  surprising.  During  this  year,  1886, 
Mr.  Sturges,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  the  mission,  was 
compelled  to  return  with  his  wife  to  the  United  States, 
never  to  go  back ; but  before  his  death  he  had  the  great 
joy  of  seeing  the  New  Testament  completed  in  the  lan- 
guage of  Ponape. 

In  the  year  1887  Miss  Lucy  M.  Ingersoll,  m.d., 
joined  the  mission  on  Ponape,  and  Rev.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Daniel  J.  Treiber  at  Ruk.  The  Training  School  and  the 
Girls'  School  on  Ponape  were  reported  as  in  a flourish- 
ing condition,  the  former  having  36  pupils,  and  the  lat- 
ter 32.  The  Star  having  brought  down  the  materials  for 
a school  building  at  Kusaie,  the  gift  of  the  children  of 
America,  it  was  suggested  to  the  pupils  on  Kusaie  that 


20 


APPENDIX. 


they  too  should  give  something  to  the  enterprise,  and 
so  all  the  male  members  of  the  two  schools  undertook 
to  can  y the  lumber  up  the  hill.  The  task  was  a heavy 
one,  and  occupied  about  four  days,  but  it  was  a happy 
task,  and  the  king  of  the  islands  provided  the  food  for 
the  company  while  the}^  were  engaged  in  the  work. 

In  the  year  1887  a dark  cloud  appeared  upon  the  hori- 
zon at  Ponape.  The  Spanish  government  had  before 
this  asserted  its  claim  of  sovereignty  throughout  the 
whole  Caroline  group,  and  on  the  fourteenth  of  March 
a Spanish  man-of-war,  with  a governor,  six  Eoman  Cath- 
olic priests,  a garrison  of  fifty  soldiers,  and  twentj’^-five 
convicts,  arrived  at  Ponape.  Assurances  were  given  that 
the  missionary  work  should  not  be  interfered  with ; but 
it  was  soon  apparent  that  the  presence  of  these  men  was 
a serious  hindrance.  The  natives  were  frightened  and 
assumed  a hostile  attitude.  The  governor  sought  to 
coerce  them,  and  compelled  them  to  act  as  his  servants. 
The  conduct  of  the  governor  and  his  under-officers 
became  so  oppressive  that  the  natives  resisted,  and  after 
some  of  their  iiumber  had  been  killed  in  cold  blood,  a 
revolt  occurred  which  resulted  in  the  slaughter  of  the 
governor  and  nearly  all  his  officers.  Mr.  Doane,  the 
veteran  missionary,  was  arrested  and  carried  to  Manilla 
on  charge  of  inciting  sedition,  but  after  a comparatively 
brief  detention  was  returned  to  Ponape,  and  a new  gov- 
ernor, more  prudent  and  humane,  was  sent  to  the  island. 
Since  that  time,  though  the  influence  of  the  Spaniards 
has  not  been  favorable  to  Christian  work,  yet  no  overt 
acts  have  been  committed.  On  December  27,  1887,  Kev. 
Robert  W.  Logan  was  called  from  his  earthly  service, 
when  he  seemed  most  needed.  He  had  cared  not  only 
for  the  work  in  the  Ruk  Archipelago,  but  had  more 
than  once  gone  from  his  station  in  a small  craft  to  visit 
the  Mortlock  churches,  watching  over  them  wisely  and 
thoughtfully. 

During  the  year  1888  Rev.  Alfred  Snelling  joined  the 


APPENDIX. 


21 


mission  at  Ruk,  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Treiber  returned  to 
the  United  States.  Miss  Alice  C.  Little  went  to  Kusaie, 
to  be  associated  with  Miss  Smith  in  the  Girls’  School. 
In  the  voyage  of  the  Star  during  that  year  it  was  found 
that  a good  beginning  had  been  made  on  Ocean  Island, 
visited  for  the  first  time  two  years  previously,  and  a 
teacher  was  received  for  the  first  time  on  Pleasant 
Island.  There  were  twenty-seven  pupils  in  the  Girls’ 
School  at  Kusaie.  In  August  of  this  year  the  death  of 
Mrs.  Walkup,  at  Kusaie,  rendered  it  necessary  that  her 
husband  sliould  come  to  the  United  Stiites  to  care  for  his 
children,  but  he  returned  on  the  next  voyage  of  the 
Star  in  1889,  that  he  might  spend  a special  amount  of 
time  in  touring  through  the  Gilbert  Islands.  At  the 
beginning  of  the  school  year  of  1888-89  thirty-three 
pupils  were  enrolled  in  the  Training  School  on  Kusaie, 
a majority  of  them  not  being  hopeful  Christians,  but 
before  the  year  closed  every  one  had  declared  his  pur- 
pose to  serve  the  Lord.  The  German  Protectorate  over 
the  Marshall  group  had  interfered  in  some  degree  with 
the  development  of  the  missionary  work,  yet  the 
churches  and  schools  were  reported  as  on  the  whole  in 
an  encouraging  condition.  The  taxes  imposed  upon  the 
native  brethren  by  the  Germans  prevented  their  giving 
to  the  evangelistic  work  as  much  as  tliey  otherwise 
would.  On  Ponape  two  new  preaching  places  were 
opened  during  the  year,  and  four  new  church  buildings 
were  erected.  The  Training  School  liad  a larger  number 
of  pupils  than  ever  before.  In  her  annual  voyage  for 
1889  the  Star  took  down  Rev.  and  Mrs.  .John  .1.  Forbes, 
for  Ponape,  and  Mrs.  Logan  returned,  with  great  self- 
sacrifice  and  devotion,  to  carry  on  tlie  Girls’  School  at 
Ruk. 

By  the  last  report  received,  the  record  of  the  Micro- 
nesian  Mission  is  as  follows:  — Stations  at  which  Ameri- 
can missionaries  reside,  3.  At  tliese  three  stations  there 
reside  seven  American  missionaries,  one  of  them  a physi- 


22 


APPENDIX. 


cian,  and  thirteen  assistant  missionaries,  including  wives. 
The  out-stations  number  47.  There  are  six  Hawaiian  mis- 
sionaries, all  residing  within  the  Gilbert  Island  group. 
In  the  whole  mission  there  are  15  native  pastors  and  61 
native  teachers  and  preachers.  The  47  churches  have 
an  enrolled  membership  of  4,509,  of  whom  613  were 
received  on  confession  of  faith  the  previous  year. 
In  the  four  Training  Schools  there  were  114  pupils. 
In  the  three  Girls’  Boarding  Schools,  79  pupils.  In  the 
common  schools,  2,422  pupils.  The  native  contributions 
for  evangelical  work  amounted  to  $2,035.30. 

May  the  prayer  of  the  sainted  Logan  be  answered, 
and  God  enable  us  all  to  be  faithful  to  the  sacred  trust 
given  us  in  behalf  of  the  waiting  isles. 


Long  BomC  i&5  fh«m  lOo 


C3l  9^^  OtiOT 


Surelg  ttf  islfs  sijall  toatt  for  mr/J 


